September 26, 2008

Some advice. She really does need to do better, but she's under an inconceivable amount of pressure to perform. I don't see how it's possible to become seasoned under the present circumstances, especially since much of the press seems to want to take her down. One of the items of advice at the link is "relax." Yeah. Do that.

You know, I can't remember the last time a reporter asked a politician a question three times when they didn't like the answer. Usually, they just accept it and go on. Rarely, they ask a second time and go on.

I feel like she's being held to a higher standard. Biden's been saying stupid shit for the past month and no one really cares. But Palin doesn't have an answer at her finger tips because the reporter excluded the best answer.. oh baby, she's not qualified.

"I don't see how it's possible to become seasoned under the present circumstances"

Oh, come on, Ann. I'm saying this as someone who's genuinely disappointed with the double standard you're showing here. For starters, I thought that Palin was already supposed to be seasoned, it's just that the biased media elites wouldn't admit that her experience mattered. Also, would you be cutting Biden the same slack if he were to bellyflop so spectacularly in an interview? Would your excuse be that he's under incredible pressure and that he'll never become seasoned unless the press gives him a free pass? Who are you trying to kid here?

The problem is that every interviewer is going to be prepped with extremely complex gotcha questions in order to trip Palin up and make her look foolish.

With each of these individual interviews, she needs to do a bit of oppo research on the interviewer and turn it around on him/her, and say, for example, You know, Charlie, you asked Barack Obama what his favorite color was, do you honestly think you're playing fair asking me these incredibly complex questions?

Do you think Newt Gingrich or Bennet, or William Effing Buckeley would be crying about "getting asked the same question 3x?"

In her couric interview she said, "If Israel thinks something is in Americas best interest we should let them do it."

If you don't fathom the treason (I'll give her a pass on stupidity) in that statement there's nothing that will change your mind. No country, no ally, no one but Americans determine "what is in the best interests" of our nation. I'm a supporter of Israel, but her reasoning her comprehension is profound. She is 44 years old and has the grasp of world affairs dwarfed by anyone on a high school debate team.

As an aside, she will get better with time. Barry has gotten better with, what, the 2 years he has been running and he still makes mistakes (not that the media reports them much). She has been in the fray for less than a month and she still makes fewer gaffes than Biden who has been doing this for decades.

If you don't fathom the treason (I'll give her a pass on stupidity) in that statement there's nothing that will change your mind. No country, no ally, no one but Americans determine "what is in the best interests" of our nation.

An interesting position considering that the Democratic candidate seems to think we should lay prostate before the United Nations in matters of national interest.

As for Palin, I will agree she is not up to par in interviews but in comparison to the complete nonsense that comes out of Joe Biden's mouth on a near daily basis, I would say the bar has been set pretty low indeed.

My advice would be ditch the script. In all of these interviews, she goes through patches where she just blurts out phrases that aren't really apropos. She needs to forget about working in the "power phrases".

I agree with relax. Stop interrupting yourself. Actually consider the question being asked. Use complete sentences.

She should be speaking about her own insights and opinions. Her biggest problem is that she doesn't seem to have any.

Why all the interest, angst, and anger at Palin? How about the other guy? The media is ignoring him, we have no idea what he really believes in, and during the one of the worst financial crises in history he is missing in action?

How about a post on the other guy, what's his name, the hair plugs guy?

FWIW, even Ross Douthat, who once wrote that he's "never rooted for any politician to succeed" as hard as he was rooting for Sarah Palin, and suggested her before McCain actually did, admits that she's a disaster.

It's a credit to him that he's now as embarrassed as he is. Still waiting for Ann to admit that maybe she isn't as good for feminism as she thought.

She is not the brightest bulb on the tree, but she gives off enough light to read the MSM by. Every year the Ivy League graduates thousands of graduates with perfect SAT scores. Many of them go to work for Lehman Bros and other investment firms. There they use their superior intellect to screw up their firms and the world they live in....It is much better to be right than to be smart. If there were a values SAT, Palin would score in the top one percentile. In the world of values the Democrats are the knuckle draggers. The fact that Palin so obviously seems hesitant and cautious and her interviewers seem so obviously intent on catching her up, does not work to the advantage of the MSM. Palin's lack of finesse is bonding her supporters to her.....I do not think Palin (nor Obama) has enough experience to be POTUS. I do not think the MSM has enough objectivity to help me choose a POTUS.

Thanks for linking to this. It's an interesting perspective to learn how politicians are coached to be glib.

Sarah Palin is not glib. I agree that she's doing a poor job of communicating her message at the moment. And part of the problem is that the campaign will not let her talk to the Press, and if you can't talk to the Press, how can you improve. It's something of a vicious cycle.

COURIC: You've cited Alaska's proximity to Russia as part of your foreign policy experience. What did you mean by that?

PALIN: That Alaska has a very narrow maritime border between a foreign country, Russia, and on our other side, the land-- boundary that we have with-- Canada. It-- it's funny that a comment like that was-- kind of made to-- cari-- I don't know, you know? Reporters--

PALIN: Well, it certainly does because our-- our next door neighbors are foreign countries. They're in the state that I am the executive of. And there in Russia--

COURIC: Have you ever been involved with any negotiations, for example, with the Russians?

PALIN: We have trade missions back and forth. We-- we do-- it's very important when you consider even national security issues with Russia as Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where-- where do they go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border. It is-- from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there. They are right next to-- to our state.

uws guy, I think it's pretty clear that she's talking about missiles. I doubt, however, that missiles lauched from Russia would travel over Alaskan airspace. So she's wrong on the Great Circle computation.

upon reading the transcript (I watched it orr.) I agree it's not about putin traveling to Washington, it's about MIG jets breaching airspace--something I'm fairly certain we and the russians do all the time.

You can hardly blame me for not understanding her the first time I heard it though can you.

No one hates saying that more than I do. Like so many women, I’ve been pulling for Palin, wishing her the best, hoping she will perform brilliantly. I’ve also noticed that I watch her interviews with the held breath of an anxious parent, my finger poised over the mute button in case it gets too painful. Unfortunately, it often does. My cringe reflex is exhausted.

She needs to learn to use a question, any question, as the basis for her pre-planned talking points. Any answer that is unrehearsed or requires thought is the wrong answer. A few well practiced transitional phrases such as:

would serve Palin very well. I mean jeez hasn't she ever watched Meet the Press. Politicians have been leaving their ass prints on journalists since the Kennedy administration and she thinks she has to try and give a straight answer?

When asked about whether the US was not in its right to express its position to Israel, Palin clarified: We don't have to second-guess what their efforts would be if they believe … that it is in their country and their allies, including us, all of our best interests

Palin is tasked, impossibily. with acting like this is an interview and not a denunciation. She should just treat it as an adversarial hearing, and she will do fine.

Fight back, Sarah!

When was even Obama "vetted" like this?

Yeah, those dozen debates, interviews on every major network (not just in the US) and with all of the news anchor were just child's play compared to having to sit down for a fireside chat with Katie Couric and Charlie Gibson. Oh, the humanity, it's just so unfair.

"We don't have to second-guess what their efforts would be if they believe … that it is in their country and their allies, including us, all of our best interests to fight against a regime, especially Iran, who would seek to wipe them off the face of the earth. It is obvious to me who the good guys are in this one and who the bad guys are."

And this was after Katie threw her a garbled question -

Couric: You don't think the United States is within its rights to express its position to Israel? And if that means second-guessing or discussing an option?

KC managed to refer to expressing its position (could be before or after), discussing an option (before) or second-guessing (definitely after).

The real scandal is that Palin's Alaska National Guard violates the Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty. The 49th Missile Defense Battalion supports the Norte Americano "National Missile Defense" which is an assault on the peace loving citizens of the world.

"uws guy, I think it's pretty clear that she's talking about missiles. I doubt, however, that missiles lauched from Russia would travel over Alaskan airspace. So she's wrong on the Great Circle computation."

Ahhh, yeah, some of them probably would. And in fact, Russian bombers flew near Alaska earlier this year. To think that the Russians wouldn't choose one of the quickest routes to mainland America for their missles and bombers is naive.

My advice is to screw the media interviews. The talking heads just want to ask unfair questions and take her down before she has a chance to answer. Nobody has any respect for the media anyway. Screw'em

Go directly to the public and back-door the media jackals. More appearances in public and where people can see you and those appearances that will be shown on the news.

Get well prepared for the debates and also take the advice in the linked article about not repeating your self. Makes you sound like a Stepford candidate. The most appealing thing that Palin did in her convention speech was the off the cuff joke. Good humor at yourself and at your opponent will carry the day.

rich b: in the seven day war with israel/France/England we told them to stop. Sarah palins position seems to be as long as an ally says "don't worry" they get cart blanch to start a ground war in the mid east.

Am I the only one to find it amusing that Palin needs to sharpen up but Biden can say stuff that even my 11 year old knows is wrong yet no one thinks that level of stupidity disqualifies someone from the 2nd highest office?

I know the liberals on here thinks she's just a power hungry, trooper firing dim-bulbed conservative MILF but really, just a tad bit of honesty about your own guy would be nice.

Am I the only one to find it amusing that Palin needs to sharpen up but Biden can say stuff that even my 11 year old knows is wrong yet no one thinks that level of stupidity disqualifies someone from the 2nd highest office?

You do not know the rules of the media. Progressives, especially respected senior members of the Senate are allowed to be stupid. How else does on explain Harry Reid? It is exppected of them. That is why they get a pass. They are also not expected to respond to crises. They are allowed to stay away from DC and not get involved in the work of the people.

I think that is written somewhere in a J School text book or something; leave Democrats alone.

There were good points in the interview though, her passport answer was really good, honest, and sincere. She is obviously a good executive, has good judgement and values. That's the Sarah people like and want to hear from. What i saw in this piece was a complete lack of confidence. I think the McCain people have really mangled this up by not letting her chat with the media. People like her, and they want to know more about her. I think most understand she doesn't have much foreign policy experiece and hasn't been immersed in national politcs for very long, there is going to be a learning curve, but most probably don't care as she is the VP pick. But by keeping her locked up, she has everything riding on these gotcha interviews where you know they are going to probe the areas she is not yet comfortable with. They need to put her out there, gaffes, flaws and all and let her get some media experience

If she had 6-8 months on the stump she would liekyl be very good in these interviews, as they take practice like anythin else. It's a lot to ask of anyone to come up to speed so quickly with a national election 40 days away.

Let me get this straight - Israel had a war with France and England? Or do you mean that Israel had a war and France/England and us asked her to stop? IIRC Israel did not stop until she won. I do not recall if we asked them not to go further.

I don't think that Palin could prudently have indicated that we second-guess Israel. That doesn't mean we wouldn't just that it doesn't make sense to tip your hand.

I'll take the bait. Biden makes a hell of a lot of gaffes (why I didn't support him for President) and I don't mind admitting it. The difference is that most of his colleagues (D & R) find him to be someone who knows a hell of a lot about foreign policy, and has demonstrated on plenty of domestic issues over the years that he can be a useful part of most debates about Washington issues. I'll contrast him with someone like George the Elder who everyone thought was pretty smart but gaffe prone, and quite frankly even as a liberal I'd take 4 years of him over 4 years of any in the Republican field this year. Gaffe's and knowledge aren't a zero-sum game.

Palin on the other hand has shown little depth on any issue save drilling in Alaska and some cultural issues. She doesn't appear to have been paying much attention to any of the major issues that affect most Americans who don't live in Alaska. Her history in the same respect doesn't show a mind that's able to deal with a number of complex issues which is required when you are President or Vice-President. I'm not a big Carli Fiornia fan, but no one can doubt that she's not very smart and would have a deep understanding of issues given time if not judgment, its hard for anyone but the hard-core Palin supporters to argue that Palin would.

I think most Americans would have forgiven GWBush if it was just gaffe's, but he seemed to know what he's talking about. Intellectual curiosity is just too important to punt on.

Speaking of Biden, I was out for a walk in my neighborhood and I came across an Obama yard sign. I noticed that they put Biden's name in a shade of blue that blends into the background of the sign. You really have to look closely to even see the word Biden. Doesn't exactly come across as a vote of confidence in ole' Joe.

Sarah Palin's apologists are all so put upon, so aggrieved. Asking her questions is so unfair. Even though most people think she is a lightweight, that's only because they've been taken in by the MSM con game.

They cling to her. Bitterly.

She's the clearest example yet of a pure culture war politician. Her ignorance is a selling point. After this ticket loses, I hope the lesson the GOP takes home is:

Palin's problem is that she is doing these fireside chat interviews that allow the MSM to do nothing but search for some gotcha answer on any obsure question they can come up with. Better to participate in a more focused interview. Something like Meet the Press where the guests usually comment on a specific topic.

Palin on the other hand has shown little depth on any issue save drilling in Alaska and some cultural issues. She doesn't appear to have been paying much attention to any of the major issues that affect most Americans who don't live in Alaska.

Fair enough but in all honesty, couldn't that be said for any governor? In one respect we value governors for their 'executive experience' yet now it appears to be a disqualification as they would be too focused on thier state and not the nation as a whole.

The difference is that most of his colleagues (D & R) find him to be someone who knows a hell of a lot about foreign policy, and has demonstrated on plenty of domestic issues over the years that he can be a useful part of most debates about Washington issues.

I won't argue the point but then you're making a powerful argument that he actually has far better credentials for the driver's seat than riding shotgun don't you think? Obama has little to no experience on the federal level of either foreign or domestic policy yet we seem to think he'll be fine leading the nation yet Palin who is probably just as qualified as him based upon the resume is too risky sitting in the back seat. I'm sorry but I'm having difficulty with the logic there.

In all honesty, I think the sad part of this whole thing is that the nation is at a very tumultuous point in its history and we're essentially being presented with two presidential tickets that really aren't up to the task.

I don't know about this. Biden has been around a long while, and has had some pretty dramatic television moments, but do all that many people really know him? For him?

I suspect the number of people who know him more than they know Palin is pretty small. Certainly a very small percentage of the voting public.

I'd love to see Rick Warren lead another forum with the VP candidates, using the same approach. We really do get to know them better when they are asked the same questions.

I think everyone would value having all the candidates answer the kinds of questions that Palin has been grilled on lately. How would Biden or Obama respond to such questions? Do people really know?

I don't.

Why doesn't the media give us a chance to learn this? Who will be our real 4th estate now that the established media corporations are not willing to ask difficult questions equally to all those involved?

I agree with some of your points, the comparison w/ Biden and his gaffes is apples to oranges.

However, I don't get the sense that Palin is not interested in national/foreign affairs or lacks intellectual curiosity, she has just never been in a position where she has to articulate her world view in Washington Speak. And lets face it, she is under tremendous pressure now in the heat of this campaign. That's not an excuse, but it can't be overlooked.

She is also obviously very nervous in these interviews, which is causing her speech and delivery to be choppy. I've seen her do interviews before where she is very smooth and coherent.

I still actually would prefer her to Biden, who has lot of experience but has been wrong on just about everything, and he is such a phony.

Palin's strength's are her authenticity and tenacity, but it certianly doesn't come across in these interviews. I think the public is willign to give her a few mulligans, but she's got to step it up a notch.

by keeping her locked up, she has everything riding on these gotcha interviews where you know they are going to probe the areas she is not yet comfortable with. They need to put her out there, gaffes, flaws and all and let her get some media experience

I don't disagree on any particular point. I agree compared to what Biden spouts off, I can't imagine her topping him.

If I were her I would stop giving MSM interviews altogether, and use every opportunity in every speech to tell the people exactly why. She can remind people that the media's very first reaction to cover her they went straight to insulting her and trashing her family with the most vile falsehoods imaginable, and doing it in a very personal way, and that it's clear they aren't playing with a straight deck generally. So she's done giving them respect until they show they can give her respect.

I think Palin has been knocked on her back foot - understandably - due to the incredibly nastiness that erupted the moment she hit the national scene. I think she can do better and am inclined to give her a little room, simply because of the way she was treated. I doubt too many people could face the firestorm she did and maintain their equilibrium.

and use every opportunity in every speech to tell the people exactly why. She can remind people that the media's very first reaction to cover her they went straight to insulting her and trashing her family with the most vile falsehoods imaginable,

I suspect that would play well to those people who will vote for her 'til she's found in bed with a live woman or a dead man. For the voters who want information on someone before they vote for them, though, not so helpful.

If she can't hold her own against the big bad meanie press in the US -- well how will she fare against Mr. Dinner Jacket?

I suspect that would play well to those people who will vote for her 'til she's found in bed with a live woman or a dead man.

It would play extremely well to everybody but the windowlicking left who wasn't ever gonna be voting for her anyways. 2008 will be marked as the year that responsible, ethical, adult-like journalism finally died. It's been on life support for awhile, but now it's dead and gone. All that's left of it is just its propped up hulking corpse, pretending that it's relevant. More and more people are realizing it all the time. These are the people she would be talking to.

If she can't hold her own against the big bad meanie press in the US -- well how will she fare against Mr. Dinner Jacket?

That would be more than holding here own. She's under no obligation to genuflect before the media. She can go right over their heads straight to the people.

The difference is that most of his colleagues (D & R) find him to be someone who knows a hell of a lot about foreign policy, and has demonstrated on plenty of domestic issues over the years that he can be a useful part of most debates about Washington issues.

No, he hasn't. He is a walking idiot box who says stupid shit daily, but because the press is just another arm of the Obama for President Committee, no one goes after him, while Palin gets the Media Anal Exam each time she sneezes. But, with Biden, when he says completely contrary or factually inaccurate things, they blow it off. "Oh it's just ol' Joe. We like him cause he's for abortions and stuff and we want Obama in the White House, so we'll ignore it beyond the transcript."

Biden polled 1% of the Dem electorate when he ran for Pres this last time. Even most Democrats really know he's a dope and they prove it with their votes everytime Joe runs for President. So quit pretending he's competent when you try to attack Palin. Its dishonest.

But, It ain't about Palin or Biden really; it's about a corrupt media machine inserting itself into the election by advocating and covering for one candidate while they seek to destroy the other thru lies and misrepresentation if necessary. They have shown themselves to be as unprofessional to their alleged craft as it can get.

Terri said...Palin has been overcoached on what NOT to say. That's why she's coming across so idiotic. She's not so used to watching her words. I understand why they did it, but it's not working for her.

Right. She's not running for President or running in the primary for the nomination of the Republican party.

She's a sales rep for the McCain campaign and she's uncomfortable when she has to wait to review her answer and edit it to give the answer that the McCain corporation wants to sell it's product.

Ever notice the difference between a stand up comic's act and the way he acts in a movie?

The naturalness and smoothness is gone.

Palin is a bad actor. Obama is a good actor.

Spread Eagle said...She's under no obligation to genuflect before the media. She can go right over their heads straight to the people.

Palin has no obligation to do interviews with Obama's campaign workers.

Here's my take on what Palin's trying to do. She's trying to sneak her way through a snakepit in high heels. So she's moving very, very cautiously, trying not to fall. It's very frustrating for those of us who'd like her to change into boots and stomp the tar out of those vipers, but that's not likely to happen (in part because the next three weeks would be about more serpents trying to sink their fangs into her, and how does that help McCain win?)

It's not fair, but what else is new? What's more important is that the entire venue puts her on the defensive, and she's spent a career being on offense. Giving a better interview is all very well and good, but what she needs is a venue where she can take the initiative. Maybe that'll be the debate; if not, she needs to find some other mechanism.

(Oh, and I have to include this thought: Joe Biden could roll around giggling on the floor of the snake pit, and nothing would be interested enough to bite him. It's strange: no matter what he says or does, they're just too bored to bite. Funny ol' world.)

Can't you just admit she's out of her league? You would never let a man get away with what you are letting her get away with because of your own personal animosity against certain kinds of feminists.

Well if you have been paying attention, we've been calling out the nitwit comments of both Obama and Biden for some time now. Evidently you and the MSM simply choose to ignore the stupidity of those two and focus on Palin's inability to quote McCain's 26 year legislative history.

Again, can someone tell me Obama's foreign policy experience, as if that suddenly means something to the liberal left?

I'm with those who say just let Palin be Palin. She's overcoached, overcautious right now.

She's done just fine for herself up to now by being herself. I think she'd be coming across a lot better if she just said what she thinks, and said it the way she would normally say things.

She has nothing of which to be afraid. Look at qualifications of the Dems last VP candidate. Look at the qualifications of the Dems current pres candidate. Listen to the high strangeness that spews from Biden's mouth daily. And I like Biden. He's not afraid, overcoached, or cautious in any way.

Sarah, just cut loose. Be you. Your running mate is one of the few Great Men left in public service, agree or disagree with particulars of his policies. Be brave. He has big enough shoulders to handle anything you stir up in his service.

McCain, let Sarah be Sarah. Biden is certainly being Biden, for cripes sake. Lead her to excellence. You graduated from a school that most ivy league types could never have gotten into, let alone graduated from. You've endured more for the sake of your country than any of us can imagine. Be bold. Go all in.

I feel much better now that I've published my advice to my chosen candidates.

muddimo & t - your comments struck a chord. A big part of her problem is she's incredibly fearful of screwing it up for him. She respects him and doesn't want to be the one who torpedoes this. The razor closeness adds to this. Peggy Noonan feared she'd be overmanaged and now I see why. I hope Biden screws up first in the debate because then she'll relax. If she screws up first she'll become even more gunshy.

"Here's a little quiz: How many of you think you would do worse than Palin in answering Couric's questions?"

I'd probably give the same answers, frankly. But I'd probably also tear Couric a new hole only a short way into the interview.

Couric would ask. Palin would answer. And Couric's follow-on would be... something else. Take the questions about bailing out homeowners. Palin's answer was right. On both sides of the issue we'd really rather not encourage bad decision making. I don't know what answer Couric *wanted* but that wasn't it. And so her follow on questions, all pre-scripted, didn't actually follow on to what Palin actually said. They followed on to some other answer.

You could tell when Palin finally had had enough. Her posture changed, her tone of voice changed, and she went ahead and mouthed-off.